Hawaii's Kīlauea experiences 56th eruption episode, spewing lava hundreds of feet high in latest activity

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii — Hawaii's Kīlauea began its 56th eruptive occurrence since December 23, 2024, conscionable astatine 12:10 p.m. section clip connected Thursday, little than 1 period aft prior episode.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), astatine the commencement of the episode, lava fountains and flows erupted signifier the volcano's northbound vent astatine tallness of astir 100 feet, with smaller fountains erupting from the southwest vent.

Hawaii's Kīlauea experiences 56th eruption episode.

(USGS / FOX Weather)

NEARLY 100 EARTHQUAKES SHAKE KĪLAUEA AS VOLCANIC UNREST PROMPTS PARK CLOSURE

Wind gusts blew the plume toward the southwest, with winds reaching 23 mph and gusts reaching 32 mph.

This occurrence from Kilauea followed days of intermittent spatter, low-dome fountains and lava flows from the vent complex.

Initially, the lava fountains were comparatively debased and conscionable reaching 300 feet high. However, they yet reached a maximum tallness of 660 feet. 

SEE IT: HAWAII'S KĪLAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTS FOR 55TH TIME SINCE 2024 AFTER RARE TWO-MONTH PAUSE

"Surface-level winds are blowing from the northeast direction, with precocious level winds from the east-southeast, which suggests that volcanic state emissions and volcanic worldly whitethorn beryllium distributed betwixt the southwest and northwest absorption from Halemaʻumaʻu," USGS stated successful their release. 

The National Weather Service released a special upwind statement regarding the event.

Hawaii's Kīlauea experiences 56th eruption episode.

(USGS / FOX Weather)

CENTURIES-OLD LAVA ROCK ARCH IN HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK COLLAPSES INTO OCEAN FOLLOWING HURRICANE NOLO

"Any ash fallout volition apt hap implicit the Kau District and Highway 11 westbound of the municipality of Volcano and perchance arsenic acold southwest arsenic Pahala," the bureau stated. "Avoid excessive vulnerability to ash which is an oculus and respiratory irritant. Those with respiratory sensitivities should instrumentality other precaution to minimize exposure."

The plume from this occurrence reached 18,000 feet supra oversea level. 

The 56th occurrence lasted adjacent to 6 hours, ending astatine 6:01 p.m. section time.

USGS reported that astir 8 cardinal cubic yards of lava erupted during the episode. 

The progressive volcano has seen dozens of episodes since the extremity of 2024, with episodes usually occurring conscionable a mates of weeks apart.